David Koch reveals what Tom Cruise is really like

The Sunrise host has interviewed Tom Cruise several times, and now he’s spilt behind the scenes details about what he’s really like.

There’s no denying Tom Cruise is a bona fide blockbuster legend, but he’s certainly proved to be a divisive character off-screen.

We’ve seen the 59-year-old Top Gun star engaged in some incredibly tense interviews over the years, notably, his infamous 2005 sit down with Channel 9’s Peter Overton, whom Cruise skewered for “stepping over the line” for asking about his co-parenting relationship with ex-wife Nicole Kidman.

But Sunrise co-host David Koch, who has interviewed Cruise a handful of times, put the star “at the top of the list” of the breakfast show’s best ever guests.

In fact, it was Koch and his former co-host Samantha Armytage who got the world exclusive scoop about the Top Gun sequel – out in cinemas today – back in 2017 when they had him in the studio.

Cruise confirmed on-air that a follow-up to the 1986 action flick had been greenlit and was set to commence filming.

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Tom Cruise has appeared on Sunrise several times over the years.

Speaking on news.com.au podcast I’ve Got News For You, Koch told host Andrew Bucklow that Cruise was a devout professional and “incredibly polite”.

“He always talks to the crew, acknowledges the camera crew and everyone working there,” Koch said. “He always says thank you to everyone when the interview is finished.

“He is always absolutely charming. He is the politest bloke you’ve ever met in your life.”

Kock further praised Cruise for always “performing” during his media commitments, revealing he even sticks around during commercial breaks to have a chat.

“There’s nothing worse than getting a famous person come in and they’re a bit snooty and not friendly, or they don’t speak well,” Koch said.

“You get the other extremes as well, that are a bit aloof, or want to change the seating so the camera gets their good side … They can be a bit of a pain.

“But (Cruise) is always on point. He’s got lots of energy and he’s incredibly polite.”

Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick is out in cinemas from today. Picture: Christopher Jue/Getty Images For Paramount Pictures

The 66-year-old veteran TV presenter also revealed that Cruise first learned to fly a helicopter in Australia while he was here filming Mission Impossible 2 in 1999.

“It was James Packer’s helicopter pilot that taught (Cruise) to fly when he did it for Mission Impossible,” Koch said.

“Of course he’s a close mate of James Packer, so he’s had Australians in his life for a long time, so he gets us.

“He’s always interested in Australia, he was married to Nicole (Kidman) for a while … He knows Australia really well and is quite comfortable here.”

Elsewhere, Koch said Oscar winner Tom Hanks, Julie Andrews and Australians Hugh Jackman, Eric Bana and Keith Urban join the best guests list with Cruise.

“The Australian superstars, everyone’s always very personable. Perhaps it’s because they get us,” he said.